


STUDY OF 
FOUR 



BS 

1535 
.H3 



INTRODUCTION Bf 



THE MNONA PUBLISHING COMPANY 

CHIGACO 




Class S &1535 

Book. _:. H,6 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 






LIBRARY of CONGRESS 

Two Copies Received 

JUN 6 1904 

Copyright Entry 

CLASS / ^t XXo. Na 



'COPY B 



COPYRIGHT, 1904 



THE WINONA PUBLISHING COMPANY 



INTRODUCTION 



These practical outline studies have been 
so helpful to me personally, that I have urged 
Prof. Hamill to permit their publication in 
this more permanent form. 

They cannot but be useful to — 
Busy business men — 
Sunday school workers — 
The young people in our churches — 
Students in our schools and colleges. 

I expect to recommend their use everywhere 
I go. 

To learn the Bible well is the secret of a 
fruitful Christian experience. 

To be able to think one's way through 
such outline studies as these will be an inex- 
haustible source of strength and pleasure. 

May the Saviour, whom these studies highly 
honor, make these pages a real blessing to 

J. WILBUR CHAPMAN. 

New York City, 
Jan. 1904. 



THE FOUR GOSPELS 



Introductory. 

No one of the gospels is complete or chronological 
within itself. Each is the complement and supple- 
ment of the others. They give the wonderful life of 
our Lord under four aspects, all of which are needed 
to form a true view of that life. It ought to be a 
delightful and profitable task to explore and analyze 
and compare the four gospels. They ought to be 
read over and over many times. They ought to be 
compared one with another, and the peculiarities of 
each made the subject of study. Each runs parallel 
with, yet in many things widely varies from, the others. 
Two books costing but little are commended: the 
"Harmony of the Gospels" according to Robinson, 
and "Why Four Gospels?" Dr. Robinson's Har- 
mony places in parallel columns all references from 
the gospels to the same event, and will prove a con- 
venient and invaluable help to systematic study. As 
to the chronological order given by Robinson, it is 
generally conceded to be the best. 



First Drill. — Who Wrote Them ? 

i. The first gospel was written by Matthew , of 
whom note the following: 

He was a Hebrew. 

He was a citizen of Capernaum in Galilee. 

He was a publican, and collected taxes for the 
Romans and was hated for it. 

He was one of the twelve apostles. 

2. The second gospel was written by John Mark, 
He lived at Jerusalem. 

His mother's name was Mary, and his cousin was 
Barnabas. 

He was a young man. 

He traveled and worked a little with Paul and 
much with Peter. 

3. The third gospel was written by Luke. 

He was the one Gentile writer of the New Testament. 
He was a native of Antioch, the Syrian metropolis. 



He was a physician and a learned man. 
He was the intimate companion and fellow-traveler 
of Paul. 

4. The fourth gospel was written by John. 
John was "the disciple whom Jesus loved." 
He was a brother of James and son of Zebedee. 
He was youngest of the twelve. 
He outlived the other apostles, dying at Ephesus at 
near one hundred years old. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



Who? luke The 



MATTHEW 
NARK 
LUKE 
JOHN 



PUBLICAN 
YOUNG MAN 
PHYSICIAN 
BELOVED 



Second Drill. — When Were They Written? 



1. Matthew's gospel is the oldest, and was written 
probably between 38 and 42 A.D., within a few years 
of the crucifixion. Some scholars place it about 60 
A. D., which is probably correct if the Greek version 
is meant. But from both external and internal evi- 
dence of the strongest kind, it seems plain that the 
ancient tradition of the church that Matthew wrote 
soon after the death of Christ in Hebrew or Aramaic, 
is correct. 

2. Mark's gospel is in doubt as to time, some 
placing it earlier, others later than Luke's. As the 
accredited companion of Peter and writing it under 
his supervision (so run the early traditions) , it must 
have been written at Rome about 63 A. D. 

3. Luke's gospel must have been written soms time 
between 6z and 66 , during the imprisonment of Paul, 
either at Caesarea, which is more likely, or later at 
Rome. A well-formed opinion places it at 64 A. D. 

4. John's gospel was written long after the others; 
opinions vary from 80 A. D. to 96 A. D. It was 
probably written near the close of the apostle's life, 
and the larger judgment is in favor oi q6 A. T>. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



When? r A.D. 



MATTHEW 38 

MARK A wv 63 

64 
JOHN 96 



Third Drill. — What Do the Gospels Contain? 

i. Matthew, more fully than the others, presents 
the systematic discourses of our Lord, for instance the 
sermon on the mount, the charge to the apostles, the 
prophetic discourse, most of the parables, etc. 

2. Mark gives special emphasis to the miracles of 
our Lord. He omits everything prior to the public 
ministry, and deals little with parables or discourses. 
His description of the miracles is peculiarly graphic 
and picturesque. 

3. Luke, in simple and unpretentious narrative, 
gives the life of our Lord in perhaps the nearest to its 
true chronological order. It is much the fullest bio- 
graphy of the four. 

4. John gives the great spiritual teachings of 
Christ, not in systematic way like Matthew, but in 
free colloquial manner, as with Nicodemus and the 
woman of Samaria. He gives little of our Lord's 
life, only so much as was omitted by the others. 
Only eight miracles and parables are noted. 
Yet John penetrated deeper into the mysteries of the 
kingdom of Christ than all others, and his gospel is 
not inaptly called "the spiritual gospel." 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



What? "Z The 



MATTHEW DISCOURSES 

MIRACLES 
LIFE 

JOHN TEACHINGS 



Fourth Drill.— Why Were They Written? 

i. The great purpose of Matthew's Gospel was to 
prove to the Jews that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 
Hence he quotes the Old Testament prophecies 
repeatedly, and shows their fulfillment in Christ. 

2. Mark, the young man, writing from Rome, 
amid a people dominating the world, and altogether 
familiar with the idea of deities dwelling among men, 
emphasizes the divine power of Jesus as the one true 
Son of God. 

3. Luke evidently dwells upon the humanity of our 
Lord, as "Son of Man." Himself a Gentile, he seeks 
kinship with Christ, and therefore runs his genealog- 
ical table back beyond Abraham — where Matthew 
had stopped — to Adam the common father of the race. 

4. John's gospel opens with the key-note to its 
purpose. — "The Word was with God, and the Word 
was God." It is the divinity of Jesus, the God-man, 
that he seems specially to press upon us. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



Why? 



MATTHEW MESSIAHSHIP 

MARK ,~- POWER 

LUKE 1 RC HUMANITY 
JOHN DIVINITY 



Fifth Drill. — To Whom Were They Written? 

i. Matthew's gospel was written for the Jews. 
This is plain from its frequent Old Testament quota- 
tions, from the free use without explanation of Jewish 
customs, etc., and from the fact that it seems to ignore 
any but Jewish Christians. 

2. Mark's was written at Rome to the Romans. 
It is just such a gospel as would impress a nation 
whose ideals were those of power and mastery. Mark 
has few Old Testament references, and is careful to 
explain Jewish phrases and customs. 

3. Luke wrote for the Greeks. The Greek lan- 
guage and culture were universal. Like Mark's 



gospel, it shows the marks of being written with care 
for the understanding of Gentile readers. 

4. John's gospel was neither local nor provincial, 
but was written for all Christians. The church had 
lived through 70 years of persecution and error, and 
the last of the apostles addresses this latest of the 
gospels to the body of believers everywhere, reestab- 
lishing the great spiritual doctrines which he had 
received from the lips of the Divine Founder of the 
Church. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



MATTHEW JEWS 

Wf-iAtn? MARK TK R0MANS 
f? OO ill • LUKE ID© GREEKS 

JOHN CHRISTIANS 



^ 




THE LAND OF CHRIST 



First Drill.— Outline Map. 

i. The Coast Line, Starting at Sidon on the 
Mediterranean coast (i), draw the western or coast 
line of Palestine south westward, through Mt. Carmel 
(2), Joppa (3), and beyond Gaza (4), as indicated 
in outline map below. This line divides into 
thirds nearly, as follows: 

From Sidon to Carmel, one-third. 

From Carmel to Joppa, one-third. 

From Joppa to the terminus south of Gaza, one- 
third. 

The entire length of the coast line, following its 
windings, is about 180 miles. From Carmel north 
to Sidon, the narrow strip next the sea belongs to 
Phoenicia. 

2. The Jordan Line. This is the eastern bound- 
ary of Palestine proper. Beginning at a point east of 
Sidon about 20 miles (5), draw a line southerly repre- 
senting the Jordan River, through Lake Merom, the 
Sea of Galilee (6), to the northern end of the Dead 
Sea (7). Complete the eastern boundary by drawing 
the Dead Sea (7 and 8) . This line also divides into 
thirds, as follows: 

From the northern terminus to the Sea of Galilee, 
about one-third. 

From the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, one- 
third. 

The Dead Sea and southward to the southern ter- 
minus, one-third. 

The entire length of this Jordan line, including its 
windings, is about 175 miles. Note as to the map, 
that Carmel on the coast line and the Sea of Galilee 
on the Jordan line are opposite; that Joppa and the 
northern end of the Dead Sea are nearly so; also Gaza 
and the southern end of the Dead Sea. 

3. Perea, or the country beyond the Jordan. Be- 
ginning at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee, 
draw east and south the outer or eastern boundary of 
Perea to a point half way the length of the Dead Sea, 
forming an area about one-third the average width 
and one-half the length of Palestine proper. 



OUTLINE MAP. 
[Draw on board before the School.] 




4. Distances. From northern to southern limits 
of Palestine, on a direct line, about 140 miles. 

From east to west at the southern end (excluding 
Perea), about 75 miles. 

From east to west at the Sea of Galilee, about 
4.0 miles. 

Perea, about 75 miles long, and from JO to JO 
miles wide. 



Second Drill. — Geography. 

i. Situation. Palestine, or the land of Christ, lie9 
along the Mediterranean Sea, at the southwestern 
extremity of Asia, and is at the junction of Asia and 
Africa. Its capital, Jerusalem, is near 32 north lat- 
itude, on a line nearly east of Savannah; Georgia. 

2. Shape. Its general contour is much like that 
of New Hampshire. 

3. Size. It has an area west of the Jordan of about 
9,000 square miles. Perea, on the east of the Jordan, 
is estimated at 3,000 square miles. 

4. Seas and Waters. The Mediterranean, or 
"Great Sea," along its entire western coast. 

Lake Merom, 3 miles wide, near the northern end 
of the Jordan line. 

The Sea of Galilee, 9 by 14 miles at its largest, 
south of Merom. 

The Dead Sea, about 50 miles long and 10 wide, 
at the southern end of the Jordan line. 

The River Jordan, about 125 miles long in direct 
line, the only considerable stream of Palestine. There 
are many small streams, important only as marking 
boundaries or historic events. The three lajt named 
waters lie below the sea level. 

5. Surface. It is chiefly mountainous. From 
west to east, the surface lies as follows: 

Along the coast, a narrow "maritime plain." 

Next, for a long distance, ranges of hills and 
mountains, sweeping north and south, called the 
"hill country." 

Next, the deep valley or canon of the Jordan, 
running below sea level north and south, including 
the Dead Sea. 

East of the Jordan, the high table lands of Perea. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 
[Use outline map and question upon each point.] 



s 



ITUATION 

HAPE 

IZE, 

EAS 

URFACE 



o 



Third Drill. — The Four Provinces. 

In the time of Christ Palestine was divided into 
four provinces, differing widely in speech, culture and 
social life. 

i. Galilee, on the north, was the most fertile and 
populous, and most important commercially. Its 
population was nearly half of the 6,000,000 peopling 
Palestine. It was characterized by a mixed citizen- 
ship of Jews and Gentiles. 

2. Samaria, in the middle, was made up of a 
mongrel race, descended from the ancient Jews and 
Assyrians, and unfriendly towards the other provinces. 

3. Judea, on the south, the largest and dominating 
province, because of its temple, its priesthood and 
Jewish aristocracy. 

4. Perea, the somewhat indefinite territory east of 
the Jordan, peopled by the pastoral and warlike 
descendents of ths eastern Jewish tribes. 

Christ's ministry extended repeatedly into all these 
provinces, though His headquarters and most of His 
ministry was centered in Galilee. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



GALILEE 




MIXED 


SAMARIA 


THE 


MONGREL 


JUDEA 


ARISTOCRATIC 


PEREA 




PASTORAL 



Fourth Drill. — Historic Places. 

Upon a blackboard outline map, on which the 
boundaries of the four provinces are traced, locate and 
describe, in concert with the school, the following 
ten places prominent in the life of Christ: 

1. Jerusalem, in Judea, the Jewish capital and 
seat of the Holy Temple, the scene of our Lord's 
death on Mt. Calvary, north of the city. 

2. Bethlehem, in Judea, 6 miles south of Jerusalem, 
where Christ was born. 

3. Nazareth, in Galilee, 70 miles north of Jerusa- 
lem, the home of Christ's youth and preparation for 
His ministry. 



LofC. 



4. Bethabara, in Perea, 25 miles east of Jerusalem, 
near to the Jordan, where Christ was baptized, and 
near where He was tempted. 

5. Capernaum, in Galilee, at the northern end of 
the Sea of Galilee, about 90 miles northeast of Jerusa- 
lem, the chief city of that province, and the home of 
our Lord's public ministry. 

6. Sychar, in Samaria, near to Jacob's well, the 
scene of our Lord's Samaritan ministry. 

7. Bethsaida, at the northern end of the Sea of 
Galilee, east of the Jordan, about 90 miles northeast 
of Jerusalem, where He fed the five thousand. 

8. Mount of Beatitudes , in Galilee, about 6 miles 
south of Capernaum, where He preached the Sermon 
on the Mount, and chose the Twelve. 

9. Casarea Phillippi, at the northern end of 
Galilee, near Mt. Hermon, no miles northeast of 
Jerusalem, the place where He was transfigured. 

10. Bethany, in Judea, about 2 miles southeast of 
Jerusalem, over Mt. Olivet, the place of our Lord's 
last sojourn in the home of Lazarus, and near to the 
•cene of the Ascension. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

[The figures give distances, the radiating lines give direction, from 

Jerusalem] 




\* 



/"?\ Bethabara »** 




LIFE OF CHRIST 



First Drill.— O. T. Prophecy. 

The Old Testament prophets center upon the com- 
ing of Christ. Extending from Genesis to Malachi, 
the prophecies became more and more definite, so 
much so that at the time of Christ's birth there was a 
general and strong expectation of his advent. Five 
of the more notable prophecies will serve to illustrate 
how clearly and definitely the coming of Christ was 
foretold: 

i. Christ's humanity was foretold to Adam after 
his fall. "The seed of the woman." Gen. 3:15. 

2. Christ's nationality was foretold to Abraham. 
"In thy seed." Gen. 22:18. 

3. Christ's tribe, as an Israelite, was declared by 
the dying Jacob. "The sceptre shall not depart from 
Judah." Gen. 49:10. 

4. Christ's family was foretold by the prophet 
Isaiah. "Out of the stem of Jesse." Isa. 11:1. 

5. Christ's birthplace was foretold by the prophet 
Micah. "Thou, Bethlehem." Micah 5:2. 

In addition to the above, Daniel fixed the definite 
time of the advent. Dan. 9:24. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



9 



HUMANITY 

NATION 

TRIBE 

FAMILY 

TOWN 



Prophets 



Second Drill. — Christ's Lineage. 

1. He was the Son of God, equal to and one with 
God — "the only begotten of the Father." While 
Joseph the carpenter was His legal father, Jesus, in 

13 



the words of the Apostles' Creed, "was conceived by 
the Holy Ghost." 

2. He was the Son of Man. His mother Mary 
was a Jewish woman, and He was thus made human 
and like unto ourselves. 

3. He was the Son of David, of the royal line of 
Judah's kings, by the lines of both Mary and Joseph. 
The Jews kept the genealogy of their families with 
great care and accuracy, and by exact lineal right, 
Jesus and not Herod the Great, the Idumean usurper, 
was the real kin^ of the Jews. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



AA „ GOD 

SON of MAN 

DAVID 



Third Drill. — Christ's Birth. 

According to the commonly accepted account, 
Christ's birth was on Christmas B. C. 5, in the year 
of the world (A. M.) 4,000, and in the year of Rome 
(A.U.) 749. Many teachers and scholars are per- 
plexed over the seemingly contradictory statement that 
Christ was born four or five years B. €L The 
explanation is as follows: Until the sixth century 
after Christ (526 A. D.) , the two ancient calendars 
continued in use, the oldest calendar computing time 
Anno Mundi, or the years since the creation of the 
world; the other dating events back to the founding 
of Rome — Anno Urbis. 

Dionysius, a Dominican monk, was instructed by 
his pope to prepare the Christian calendar, dating 
events from the birth of Christ — Anno Domini. He 
placed the birth of Christ at 754 of the Roman 
Calendar (A. U.), and made that the year I of the 
Christian calendar. This new calendar was first 
used historically in the writings of the Venerable 
Bede of the eighth century, and not long after was 
introduced into all public transactions by the Emperor 
Charlemagne. It was a mistake of at least four full 
years, as is now clearly established. Christ was 

14 



probably born at the close of 749 A. U., the year 
before Herod's death, more than four full years be- 
fore the time fixed by Dionysius. Instead of the 
present year being 1904, it should be 1908, A. D. 



BLACKBOARD 


OUTLINE. 




749 

.„„ , 1 


A.U. 


754 




A.D. 


™ 1 

— ¥-1- 
5 


B.C. 


: 




4 3 


2 1 





Fourth Drill. — A Simple Chronology. 

To fix in the memory the leading events in Christ's 
life, a simple chronology may be formed upon the 
letters of the word CHRIST, as follows: 
C — Christmas B. C. 5, the time of Christ's birth. 
H — His flight to Egypt as a babe, probably not six 

months old, B. C. 4. 
R — Return from Egypt to Nazareth B. C. 3, where 

he dwelt about twenty-eight years. 
I — In the Temple at Jerusalem as a boy of twelve 

years, at the passover of 8 A. D. 
S — Served publicly three and a third years, from 

baptism at the age of thirty to his death in the 

beginning of his thirty-fourth year — 27 to 

30 A. D. 
T — The crucifixion, Friday, April 7, 30 A. D. 

According to this opinion, Christ was about thirty- 
three and one-third years of age at the time of His 
death. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 





Christmas 5 B. C. 


A jms. 1 


His Flight 4 B. C. 


3^ 


Return 3 B. C. VpQ^ 
In Temple 8 A. D. I Cell 3 




Service 27-30 A. D. 




The Cross Apr. 30 A. D. 



Fifth Drill.— The Five Periods. 

The life of Christ may be easily divided into five 
definite periods. This division will greatly assist the 
student's memory. The five periods are as follows: 

First Period. The Thirty Silent Years, or the 
period of preparation, beginning with Christ's birth, 
B. C. 5, and continuing through infancy, youth and 
early manhood for thirty years, until His baptism, 
A. D. 27. Very little is given in the Scriptures con- 
cerning this long period. 

Second Period. The Year of Obscurity, the year 

27 A. D., being the first full year of our Lord's 
public ministry. It is so called because so little is 
known of it, the gospel of John giving nearly all 
that is recorded. 

Third Period. The Year of Popularity, the year 

28 A. D., being the second full year of our Lord's 
ministry. It is so called because of the great favor 
with which our Lord was received throughout the 
entire year. 

Fourth Period. The Year of Opposition, the year 

29 A. D., being the third full year of Christ's min- 
istry. During this year there was constant and in- 
creasing opposition to His ministry on the part of the 
Jewish leaders. 

Fifth Period. The Tear of Death, the year 30 
A. D., being the fourth year of our Lord's ministry. 
It includes only the time from January to our Lord's 
death, April 7th, and His ascension forty days later, 
in the month of May. Much of the four gospels is 
given to this closing and eventful period. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



SILENT YEARS 



Year 



OBSCURITY 
OF POPULARITY 
OPPOSITION 
DEATH 



16 



THE SILENT YEARS 



Little is known of the first thirty years, sometimes 
called the "Silent Years, M of Christ's life. A 
glimpse here and there is all that the gospels afford 
us. Whatever pardonable curiosity one may feel to 
know more of these strange years of silence and pre- 
paration, nothing would be gained in knowing it. 
The thirty years of infancy, youth and developing 
manhood have no part in the salvation of men. It 
is the death of Christ that atones and saves, hence 
more than half of the four gospels is given to the 
last few weeks of our Lord's life. His miracles and 
teachings of infinite power and wisdom availed nothing 
without the shedding of His blood upon the cross. 
This perhaps is why so little is given by the gospel 
writers of these thirty uneventful years. Enough is 
known, however, to substantiate the following: 

i. That the years of childhood and youth, the 
poverty, retirement and subjection of His Galilean 
home, were part of His long and patient preparation. 

2. That the limitations of growth, physically, 
mentally and spiritually, were upon Him as upon 
others. (Luke 2: 52.) 

3. That ancient legends or modern story writers 
who assign the working of miracles to this period of 
our Lord's life are wholly unwarranted, and indeed 
are plainly contradicted by the Scriptures (John 2: n) . 
Such books as "The Child Christ," would better not 
have been written. 



First Drill — Chronology. 

The "Silent Years," the first great period of 
Christ's life, extend from His birth to His baptism — 
thirty full years and more. 

The birth of our Lord, according to the common 
chronology, occurred near to the close of the year 



B. C. 5, more than four full years before the year i 
A. D., which (as was explained informer drills) was 
erroneously fixed as the date of His birth and com- 
mencement of the Christian calendar. This blunder 
makes the calendar four years too late in beginning. 

The baptism of Christ took place near to the begin- 
ning of A. D. 27 (probably in January). Running 
backward to the year 1 A. D., gives us tiventy-six 
full years, and adding to this the four years omitted 
by the mistake of Dionysius, we have the thirty full 
years, between our Lord's birth and baptism. Christ 
was, therefore, entering upon his thirty-first year at 
the time of His baptism, January, A. D. 27. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 







1 A. D. Z7 


* 












* 


4 


3 


2 


1 


z6 Years. 


B 






B 



Second Drill. — Christ's Infancy. 

For convenience in memorizing, the ten chief events 
of the "Silent Years" are assigned to two drills, the 
first five events being given as belonging to "Christ's 
Infancy;" the second five events to "Christ's Youth." 

The five principal events of infancy , in their proper 
order, are as follows: 

1. The annunciation of the birth of Christ by the 
angel Gabriel to Mary at Nazareth, in the spring of 
A. D. 5, (Luke 1:26). 

2. The birth of Christ, in the manger at Bethle- 
hem, the royal city of His ancestor, David, at Christ- 
mas, B. C. 5, followed closely by the visit of adoring 
shepherds, and the circumcision of Christ when eight 
days old. (Luke 2: 1-21) . 

18 



3. The presentation in the temple at Jerusalem, 
when forty days old, in accordance with the Jewish 
ceremonial law (Leviticus 12) , closely followed by 
the visit of the wise men of the East, ^Luke 2: 22-38 
and Matt. 2: 1-23) . 

4. The flight of Joseph, Mary and the babe Christ 
to Egypt, B. C. 4, as commanded by the angel of the 
Lord, occurring when Jesus was only a few months 
old. (Matt. 2: 13-14). 

5. The return to Nazareth from Egypt, after the 
death of King Herod. The time is uncertain, but 
was probably more than a year after the flight. The 
Oxford Teacher's Bible gives it as more than two 
years, and fixes the return at the year 1 A. D. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



Christ's 


ANNUNCIATION 

BIRTH 

PRESENTATION 

FLIGHT 

RETURN 


Infancy 



Third Drill.— Christ's Youth. 



This division of the " Silent Years'' includes from 
the return to Nazareth, probably B. C. 2, to the 
baptism of Christ A. D. 27, covering twenty-eight 
years of childhood, youth and early manhood at Naz- 
areth, the home of his parents, Joseph and Mary. 
There is a strong presumption that Joseph died while 
Christ was yet a boy. 

1. The childhood of Christ, the one beautiful 
glimpse of it in His Galilean home being given by 
Luke only. (Luke 2: 40). 

2. Christ in the temple at Jerusalem among the 
doctors, at the annual passover in the spring of 
A. D. 8, when twelve years old. There is little 
doubt that Jesus went often to the passover during the 
years of His youth. (Luke 2: 40-52 and 2: 41). 



3- The youth and early manhood of Christ at 
Nazareth, given only by Luke. (Luke 2: 51). 

4. The opening ministry of His cousin and herald, 
John the Baptist, in the wilderness of the Jordan, in 
the spring and summer of A. D. 26, the year before 
our Lord's ministry began. Eighteen wholly unnoted 
years passed between the temple scene at twelve years 
and His baptism at thirty years of age. (Luke 3: 1-18) . 

5. The baptism of Christ at Bethabara, beyond 
Jordan, at the hands of John, at the beginning of 
A. D. 27. This closes the " Silent Years, " and 
marks the beginning of our Lord's public ministry. 
(Luke 3: 21-23) . 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



Christ's 


CHILDHOOD 

IN TEMPLE 

YOUTH 

JOHN BAPTIST 

BAPTISM 


Youth 



Fourth Drill. — Outline Map and Itinerary. 



Draw in advance an outline blackboard map in heavy 
lines, with boundaries in white and numbered 
places in some other bright color. Keep it from 
view until the drill begins. Commence the drill 
with a rapid concert review of the ten chief events 
noted in the two preceding drills. Question as to the 
details, thus: " What is the first event ?" " Where 
did the annunciation take place?" "When?'' "To 
whom was the announcement made?" "By whom 
made?" "What was announced?" "Point out on 
the map the place of the annunciation." (Have 
some scholar to do this) . 

Pass in this way over the ten events and places given 
below, invariably using the map and the eye, until 
the school can readily repeat the events in order, or 
the intinerary of numbered places. 





OUTLINE MAP 












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ITINERARY. 

Annunciation (i) Nazareth. 

Birth fa) Bethlehem. 

Presentation (3) Jerusalem. 

Flight (4) Egypt. 

Return (5) Nazareth. 

Childhood (6) Nazareth. 

In the Temple (7) Jerusalem. 

Youth (8) Nazareth. 

John Baptist (9) Wilderness. 

Baptism (10) Bethabara. 



THE YEAR OF OBSCURITY 



First Drill. — Chronology. 

"The Year of Obscurity" is the first of the four 
years of our Lord's public ministry. It is so called 
because so little of it is recorded by the sacred writers. 
Matthew, Mark and Luke are strangely silent con- 
cerning it, not one of its events subsequent to the 
temptation of Christ being given by them. John, in 
the first four chapters of his gospel, gives the only 
record, and disposes of at least six months of the year 
in one or two verses (see John 3:22 and 4:3). 
Although the record is thus incomplete, the events 
noted are of peculiar interest, as marking the opening 
period of Christ's ministry. 

Note five things: 

1. That this first year is the calendar year 
A. D. 27. 

2. That it includes the events that lie between 
the baptism of Christ in January, and the imprison- 
ment of John, at the close of the year, probably in 
December. 

3. That the year was spent mainly in Judea y so 
much of it at least as is between the April passover 
and late in the fall. 

4. That John the Baptist's ministry continued 
throughout the entire year, closing at its end with his 
imprisonment by Herod. 

5. That there is record during the year of no 
parables, and of only two miracles (both at Cana) . 
That there were other miracles and much teaching is 
plainly to be inferred from John's text (see John 3:2 
and 4:1). 

To fix the chronology of the year clearly upon the 
minds of the scholars, study it in connection with the 
other years of Christ's ministry, as follows: 

1. Draw on the blackboard, in presence of the 
school, a line to represent the entire life of Christ — 
33/i years, shading heavily that part which stands for 
the 1% years of His ministry. 



2. Mark off from the left the thirty ''Silent 
Years," extending from his birth B.C. 5 to His bap- 
tism, January A. D. 27. 

3. Indicate by short vertical lines the four divisions 
or years of public ministry, viz.: 

First year, Obscurity, A. D. 27. 
Second year, Popularity, A. D. 28. 
Third year, Opposition, A. D. 29. 
Fourth year, Death, A. D. 30. 

Then drill upon the following: 

The first year extends from the baptism to John's 
imprisonment. 

The second year, from John's imprisonment to his 
death. 

The third year, from John's death to the death of 
Lazarus. 

The fourth year, from Lazarus^ death to the 
crucifixion. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE 




Second Drill.— Chief Events, First Half. 



Ten events comprise most of the year's record. 
The first five events belong mainly to the first half of 
the year; the second five events to the last half of the 
year. To lighten the work of memory, these ten 
events are therefore given in two drills, as follows: 

For the first half of the year: 

1. The baptism of Christ by John, at Bethabara, 
beyond Jordan, January A. D. 27 (Luke 3: 21-22). 

2. The temptation of Christ, for forty days immedi- 
ately succeeding the baptism, in the Wilderness of 
Judea, somewhere between Jerusalem and the Dead 
Sea. The traditional site is Mt. Quarantania, near 
the northern end of the Dead Sea (Luke 4: 1-13) . 

23 



3. The first disciples enrolled (though not formally 
called), viz.: Andrew, John, Peter, Philip, and 
Nathaniel (the Bartholomew of the Twelve) , at Beth- 
abara, to which Christ returned after his temptation 
(John i: 37-51) . 

4 The first miracle of His ministry, at Cana of 
Galilee, to which our Lord, with His disciples, 
journeyed, probably in the month of March (John 
2: 1-11). 

5. The first pass over, in April, at Jerusalem, at 
which Christ cleansed the Temple and discoursed 
with Nicodemus (John 2: 12-25 an< ^ J onn 3 : 1-21). 

This brings us to the close of April, A. D. 27. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE 



YEAR OF OBSCURITY, 



First 



Baptism 

Temptation 

First Disciples 

First Miracle 

First Passover 



Half 



Third Drill. — Chief Events, Last Half. 



The last half of the year: 

The second five events of the Year of Obscurity 
extend from the close of the Passover to the close of 
the calendar year, as follows: 

6. The Judean ministry, of preaching and bap- 
tisms, in Northeast Judea, from May to probably late 
in the fall (John 3: 22 and 4: 1). 

7. The journey northward through Samaria, late 
in the fall, including the discourse at Jacob's well, 
near Sychar, which led to the conversion of many 
Samaritans (John 4: 1-42). 

8. The healing of the nobleman's son, at Cana, 
late in the year (John 4: 46-54) . 

9. John's imprisonment by Herod Antipas, in 
Castle Machaerus, on the east shore of the Dead Sea, 
which for a time probably suspended our Lord's min- 
istry (Matthew 4: 12) . 



io. Christ's retirement in Galilee (probably at 
Nazareth) , at the close of the year, an interim of 
several months in His ministry occurring at this time. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



YEAR OF OBSCURITY. 



Last 



Judean Ministry 

In Samaria 

Nobleman's Son 

John in Prison 

Retirement 



Halt 



Fourth Drill. — Outline Map— Itinerary. 

Draw on blackboard, in advance, in heavy lines, 
an outline map of the Holy Land (as for last drills), 
giving only the bare outlines and boundaries of prov- 
inces. Have the school first repeat rapidly the ten 
chief events of the year in order, and name the place 
and province where each event occurred, as in the 
"Itinerary" below. Then with colored crayon in- 
dicate the places in order and ask questions concern- 
ing each, as follows: 

"Where did the baptism occur?' ' 

"In what province is Bethabara?" 

"What direction and distance from Jerusalem?" 

"What is the next event of the year in order?" 
etc., etc., through the ten events, locating on the 
board the place after the questions have been 
answered by the school. 



Itinerary, A. 


D. 27. 


Baptism 




(1) Bethabara. 


Temptation 




(2) Quarantania. 


First Disciples 




(1) Bethabara. 


First Miracle 




(3) Cana. 


First Passover 


AT 


(4) Jerusalem. 


Judean Ministry 


(5) Northern Judea 


In Samaria 




(6) Sychar. 


Nobleman's Son 




(3) Cana. 


John in Prison 




(7) Machaerus. 


Retirement 




(8) Nazareth. 



25 



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26 



THE YEAR OF POPULARITY 



This year, A. D. 28, was the most notable of our 
Lord's ministry, abounding in movement, miracle 
and parable, and popular with all classes. Hence 
its name — "The Year of Popularity." 



First Drill. — The Year's Movements. 

The following are the principal movements of the 
year 28 A. D. 

1. The removal of our Lord, at the beginning of 
the year, from Nazareth to Capernaum, consequent 
upon his rejection by his townsmen of Nazareth. 
Capernaum continued to be his home during the re- 
mainder of his ministry. It was the chief commercial 
city of Galilee and of the nation, about ninety miles 
northeast of Jerusalem, upon the northwest shore of 
the Sea of Galilee. (Luke 4:16-31). 

2. The first Galilean circuit, immediately suc- 
ceeding his removal to Capernaum. Having called 
to discipleship Peter, Andrew, James and John, four 
Galilean fishermen, accompanying the call with the 
miraculous draught of fishes and other miracles, he 
made his first circuit of Southern Galilee with them, 
preaching and working miracles. (Luke 4:42-44). 

3. Early in April he attended the second Passover 
of his public ministry, at Jerusalem, healing the infirm 
man at the Pool of Bethesda, and arousing the 
hostility of the Pharisees by a discourse upon his 
divinity. (John 5:1-47) . 

4. Returning to Capernaum in company with his 
disciples after a time, in the summer, probably upon 
the Mount of Beatitudes, about seven miles south of 
Capernaum, he chose and ordained the Twelve, 
following it with the Sermon on the Mount. Later in 
the summer, or early in the autumn, he made the 
second circuit of Galilee, this time with the Twelve. 
(Luke 6:12-49). 

5. Returning to Capernaum, sometime in the late 
autumn or early winter, he instructed and sent forth 
the Twelve, upon a third Galilean circuit, himself 
also "departing thence to teach and preach in their 
cities." (Luke 9:1-6 and Matt. 11:1). 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

yewr arvopuuutnY. 




Second Drill. — The Year's Miracles. 

Sixteen miracles are recorded for the year, though 
many others are indicated by the four evanglists. 
Among the more notable miracles of the year were the 
following: 

i. The healing of the demoniac, on the Sabbath 
in the synagogue at Capernaum, shortly after our 
Lord's removal to that city. (Luke 4:31-37) . 

2. The healing of the leper , on the first Galilean 
circuit with the four disciples, early in the year, at 
some unknown place in Southern Galilee. (Luke 
5:12-16). 

3. The healing of the impotent man, at the Pool 
of Bethesda, in Jerusalem, during the April Passover. 
(John 5:1-16.) 

4. The healing of the centurion* s servant, in the 
mid- summer, at Capernaum, after the return from the 
Passover. (Luke 7:1-10) . 

5. The raising to life of the widow's son, shortly 
after, at Nain, a little Galilean village southwest of 
Capernaum. ' (Luke 7:11-17) . 

6. The stilling of the tempest on the Sea of Gali- 
lee, in the autumn, while crossing from Capernaum to 

28 



the country of Gadara on the eastern shore. (Luke 
8:22-25). 

7. The restoration of the Gadarene demoniac, in 
the country of Gadara, immediately after crossing the 
lake. (Luke 8:26-40) . 

8. The raising to life of Jairus } daughter, at 
Capernaum, in the late autumn or early winter. 
(Luke 8:41-56). 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



THE YEAR'- 




Third Drill.— The Year's Discourses and 
Parables. 

There were several memorable discourses during the 
year, together with the beginning of our Lord's teach- 
ing by parables. In the order of time the more prom- 
inent occured as follows: 

1. Early in April, at Jerusalem, the Passover 
discourse upon his divinity, that so much angered the 
Jewish leaders. (John 5:17-47) . 

2. Our Lord's discourse on the Sabbath, in answer 
to the challenge of the Pharisees, delivered probably 
while returning from the Passover to Galilee. (Luke 
6:1-5). 

3. In the summer, at the Mount of Beatitudes in 

*9 



Galilee, occured his most noted discourse, the 
"Sermon on the Mount," defining the meaning and 
laws of his kingdom. (Matt. 5, 6 and 7). 

4. In the autumn, by the Sea of Galilee, at and 
near to Capernaum, began the teaching of his won- 
derful parables. Ten of these are given as spoken 
during the year, commencing with the "Lake group" 
of eight parables, "The Sower," the "Tares," etc. 
(Matt. 13:1-53). 

5. The closing discourse of the year was the ser- 
mon of admonition and instruction to the Twelve, at 
Capernaum, in the early winter, on the eve of the 
third Galilean circuit. (Matt. 10:5-24). 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

THE YEflRS TEACHING* 







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A 



Fourth Drill.— Itinerary. 

The itinerary of the year is necessarily imperfect, 
as the route of the three Galilean circuits cannot be 
known. Only the principal movements of those which 
are known are given below: 

ITINERARY. 

1. From Nazareth early in the year. 

2. To Capernaum , his future home. 

(The Circuit of Galilee with the Four.) 



3- To the 2nd Passover, at Jerusalem, in April 

4. The twelve Chosen, at the Mount of Beatitudes 
in the summer. 

5. Visit to Nain, and miracle there, in the summer. 
(The Circuit of Galilee 'with the Twelve.) 

6. Crossing to Gadara, with miracles attending, 
in the autumn. 

(The Circuit of the Twelve, in winter.) 

OUTLINE MAP. 




THE YEAR OF OPPOSITION 

The "Year of Opposition"— A. D. 29 — was the 
crisis in our Lord's public ministry. The hostility of 
the leaders of the Jewish Church intensified until they 
openly sought his death. The year was characterized 
by repeated collisions between Christ and the Temple 
partisans, in which he denounced their hypocrisies and 
traditions, The common people, too, disappointed in 
their temporal expectations, began to leave him. With 
the raising of Lazarus, near the end of the year, oppo- 
sition became so bitter that it was plainly a question of 
a few weeks or days until the death of Christ would be 
accomplished. 

During the year our Lord was in each of the four 
Jewish provinces in turn. The harmonists vary much 
in the order of events in the late autumn, as to the 
interim, especially between the Feast of Tabernacles 
in October and the Feast of Dedication in December, 
a period of about three months. We hold with those 
who assign our Lord's Perean ministry to this interim. 

The events of the year divide easily and naturally 
into four parts, as follows: 

1. The events of the Spring, in and near Caper- 
naum. 

2. The events of the Summer, in Northern Galilee, 
Decapolis, etc. 

3. The events of the Autumn, in and near to Jeru- 
salem, in connection with the Feast of Tabernacles. 

4. The events of the Winter, in the province of 
Perea, in what is usually called our Lord's "Perean 
Ministry." 

First Drill — The Spring. 

During the principal events of the Spring, our Lord 
was in and near to Capernaum. The events are as 
follows: 

1. Our Lord's second rejection at Nazereth, and 
his final departure from it. (Matt. 13: 54). 

2. The death of John the Baptist, at Castle Ma- 
chaerus, at the hands of Herod. This gave impetus 
to opposition, and doubtless hurried home the Twelve 
from the special apostolic mission. (Matt. 14: 13). 



3. The return of the Twelve to Capernaum, after 
a mission of several months, followed by the attempted 
retirement of our Lord and the Twelve in the secluded 
region northeast of the Sea of Galilee. (Luke 9: 10) . 

4. Great multitudes following them even into their 
place of seclusion, our Lord at a place near Bethsaida 
Julias, east of the Sea of Galilee, works the one great 
miracle which is recorded in the four gospels — the 
feeding of the five thousand. (Luke 9: 12). 

5. Returning to Capernaum, our Lord spent some 
time in that city, and in one of its synagogues delivered 
his memorable discourse upon the "Bread of Life" 
the pure spirituality of which turned away many of the 
multitude from further following after him. (John 
6: 22) . 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



A 
R 

U 

N 
D 


SPRING A. D 

Rejection at Nazareth 

John's Death 

The Twelve Return 

Five Thousand Fed 

The Bread 0! Life 


. 29 

Caper= 
naum 



Second Drill — Summer. 

1. On account of the increasing opposition at Jeru- 
salem, our Lord did not attend the April Passover, 
but, together with his disciples, made a long circuit of 
Northern Galilee, along the borders of Tyre and Sidon 
and east of the Upper Jordan. (Matt. 15: 21) . 

2. During this tour he healed the daughter of the 
Syrophenician woman, in the vicinity of Tyre. (Matt. 
15:28). 

3. Turning southward along the eastern shore of 
the Upper Jordan and Sea of Galilee, he came into 
the region of Decapolis, and there occurred the feeding 
of the four thousand. (Matt. 15: 32). 

4. Returning northward again, he came into the 
region of Caesarea Philippi, where Peter made his 
memorable confession of faith. (Luke 9: 18). 

5. After fortelling his death and the persecution 
of his followers, upon some one of the mountains of 
Hermon ensued the scene of the Transfiguration. 
(Luke 9: 28). 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



Upper 



SUMMER A. D. 

Northern Circuit 

The Syrophoenician 

Four Thousand Fed 

Confession of Peter 

Transfiguration 



29 



Gali 

lee 



Third Drill — Autumn. 

i. Returning to Capernaum late in the summer, 
our Lord instructed and sent forth the seventy prior to 
his departure to Jerusalem. (Luke 10: i). 

2. Journeying southward into Samaria, the miracle 
of the healing of the Ten Lepers occurred. (Luke 
17: 11). 

3. Our Lord next appears at Jerusalem at the 
October Feast of Tabernacles , during which he was 
fiercely beset by the partisans of the Temple. (John 
7:2). 

4. A notable miracle followed after the Feast, in 
the healing of the man born blind, at Jerusalem. 
This brought him still more sharply into conflict with 
the priests and leaders. (John 9: 1). 

5. Following this miracle, there was spoken in 
Jerusalem the discourse upon the Good Shepherd, and 
the parable of the Good Samaritan, the latter probably 
at a point near to the city. (John 10:1 and Luke 10:25). 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



At 


AUTUMN A, D. 

Severity Sent 

Ten Lepers 

Tabernacles 

Man Born Blind 

Good Shepherd 


29 

Jeru= 
salem 



Fourth Drill— Winter. 

At this point comes the variance of the harmonists 
as to the order of events between the Feast of Taber- 
nacles and of Dedication, an interval of about three 
months. The order which assigns the "Perean min- 
istry" to this interval is followed: 

1. Driven from Jerusalem, our Lord goes into 
Perea beyond the Jordan, and in a synagogue on the 
Sabbath, heals the Infirm Woman. (Luke 13: 10). 

2. The parable of the Prodigal Son was spoken in 
Perea during this tour. (Luke 15: n). 

3. Also, later on, the parable of Dives and Laza- 
rus. (Luke 16: 19) . 

4. Closing his Perean ministry of several weeks or 
months, our Lord returned in December to Jerusalem 
to the Feast of Dedication. (John 9: 1) . 

5. Again escaping from the persecutions of his 
enemies, he retires to Bethabara beyond the Jordan. 
(John 10: 39). 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



In 



WINTE.K A. D. 29 

Infirm Woman 

Prodigal Son 

Dives and Lazarus 

Dedication 

Perean Retreat 



Perea 




THE YEAR OF DEATH 

The year A. D. 30 was the last year of our Lord's 
life and ministry, beginning with January and closing 
with his death on the cross, Friday, April 7th. Adding 
to these three months the time intervening between the 
Crucifixion and the Ascension, this last period, en- 
titled the "Year of Death," is a little more than one- 
third year. The Ascension, occurring forty days after 
the Resurrection, is by the common chronology as- 
signed to May 1 8th. The year begins with the raising 
of Lazarus in January, and includes our Lord's closing 
ministry in Perea, and the last scenes in and around 
Jerusalem. Its peculiar interest is shown by the fact 
that much of the Gospel narrative is given to its events. 
The following drills necessarily include only the lead- 
ing events. 

First Drill — The Year of Death. 

1. The Visit to Bethany. After the Feast of Dedi- 
cation in December A. D. 29, Jesus withdrew to 
Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where, probably in 
January, the message concerning the sickness of Laz- 
arus reached him. Together with his disciples, he 
passed over the Jordan to the home of Lazarus at 
Bethany, a village on the east slope of the Mount of 
Olives, near to Jerusalem. 

2. Retirement at Ephraim. The hostility of the 
Jewish leaders was so intensified by the great miracle 
wrought at Bethany that our Lord at once withdrew 
to Ephraim, on the border of Judea, northeast of Jeru- 
salem, where he remained in retirement for several 
weeks. 

3. Visit to Perea. At the close of this retirement, 
probably in March, our Lord passed from Ephraim 
eastward along the border of Judea and Galilee, and 
crossing the Jordan into Perea, continued there several 
weeks, teaching and working miracles, until near to 
the time of the annual Passover. 

4. Last Journey to Jerusalem. During the last 
days of March, Christ's last and fateful journey to 
Jerusalem was made, re-crossing the Jordan and 
passing by way of Jericho to the approaching Passover. 

36 



Bethany, the home of Lazarus and of Simon, was 
reached at the close of the month, and became the 
resting place of the last week of his life. 

5. Passion Week. The first week of April is com- 
monly called "Passion Week" or week of ' 'suffering" 
(as the word in the original betokens.) Much of it 
was spent by our Lord and his disciples in Jerusalem, 
Bethany being used as their place of retirement at night. 

6. The Forty Days. The interval of forty days 
between the Resurrection, April 9th, and the Ascen- 
sion, May 1 8th, was marked by eleven appearances of 
Christ, partly in and around Jerusalem and partly in 
Galilee. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 




YEAR OF DEATH 



VISIT TO BETHANY 
RETIREMENT AT EPHRAIM 

VISIT TO PEREA 

JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM 

PASSION WEEK 

THE FORTY DAYS 




Second Drill— The Last Year's Miracles. 

1. The Raising of Lazarus, at Bethany, in Janu- 
ary, the "climax of miracles," and that which directly 
precipitated the death of Christ. 

2. The healing of the infirm njjoman, in Perea, 
probably in the month of March, on the Sabbath day, 
in one of the synagogues. This miracle is sometimes 
assigned to another time and place, but we follow the 
harmony of Dr. Robinson. 

3. The healing of the two blind men, near to 
Jericho, a city just west of the Jordan and at the head 
of the Dead Sea. This occurred as our Lord was 
passing to Jerusalem. 

4. The withering of the barren fig tree, Monday, 
April 3rd, of Passion week, as our Lord and his dis- 
ciples were on their way from Bethany to Jerusalem. 

5. The healing of the High Priesfs servant, 
Malchus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, at the time 
of his arrest, was Christ's last miracle. 



37 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



A.D. 



YE,AR OF DEATH 

MIRACLES 
Raising Lazarus 
Infirm Woman 
Two Blind Men 
Barren Fig Tree 
High Priest's Servant 



30 



Third Drill— The Last Year's Parables. 

i. The parable of Dives and Lazarus. This 
was spoken in Perea, as our Lord was journeying 
towards Jerusalem. 

2. The parables on prayer — the importunate widow 
and the pharisee and publican, followed soon after, 
and belong to the closing Perean ministry. 

3. The parable of the pounds, spoken in the home 
of Zaccheus the publican, between Jericho and Jeru- 
salem. 

4. The parable of the wicked husbandmen, to- 
gether with two others, the "two son's" and "mar- 
riage of the King's son" — occurred in the Temple, 
Tuesday of Passion week, on the occasion of our 
Lord's last public teaching. 

5. The two closing parables of his ministry — the 
ten virgins and the talents — were spoken to his dis- 
ciples upon the Mount of Olives, Tuesday of Passion 
week, immediately after the last teaching in the 
Temple indicated above. Together with these two 
parables were spoken the prophecies concerning the 
destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. 



blackboard outline. 



YEAR OF DEATH 

PARABLES 
Dives and Lazarus 
Parables on Prayer 

The Founds 
Wicked Husbandmen 
Virgins and Talents 



30 



38 



Fourth Drill— The Last Year's Itinerary. 

Upon an outline map may be traced in succession 
the movements of our Lord during this last period of 
his ministry: 

i. At Bethabara, beyond Jordan, in January, in 
retirement. 

2. "Bethany, to which our Lord was recalled, and 
where he raised Lazarus from the dead. 

3. Ephraim, on the border of Judea, to which he 
retired, and where he probably remained in retirement 
parts of February and March. 

4,. Perea, through which he passed, in his closing 
ministry, in the month of March. 

5. Jericho, west of the Jordan, through which he 
passed on his last journey to Jerusalem, the last week 
in March. 

6. Bethany and Jerusalem, where he spent the 
last week of his life. 




LAST DAYS OF CHRIST 



No part of the sacred Scriptures equals in interest 
the story of the last days of our Lord. Much of the 
gospels is given to the narrative of their many events. 
The student is urged to fix securely and clearly in his 
mind and heart the details of the closing days of the 
Savior's life. It will make one a better Christian to 
do f his 

First Drill— The Last Week. 

This extends from Sunday, April 2nd, to Sunday, 
April 9th, A. D. 30, inclusive, and is commonly 
called "Passion Week," or "week of suffering,' ■ as 
the word in the original betokens. On the last day 
of March, our Lord, having concluded his labors in 
Perea, reached Bethany, a village near to Jerusalem, 
on the east slope of the Mount of Olives. Here he 
made his home during this last week of his life, visit- 
ing Jerusalem with his disciples by day, and retiring 
to Bethany for the night. It was the home of his 
friend Lazarus. The chief incidents of the week were 
as follows: 

Saturday, April 1st (the Jewish Sabbath), was 
spent in Bethany, without recorded incident. 

Sunday, April 2nd (Palm Sunday), occurred the 
"Triumphal Entry" of Christ, with his disciples and 
the attending multitude, into Jerusalem. 

Monday, April 3rd, the second day of Passion 
Week, our Lord again visited Jerusalem. On the way 
was the miracle of the barren fig tree, and in the 
temple occurred the second cleansing of the sacred 
house. 

Tuesday, April 4th, was the occasion of another 
visit from Bethany to the temple. During the first 
part of the day, our Lord taught for the last time 
publicly in the temple. The parables of the king's 
son, the wicked husbandmen, and the marriage of 
the king's son, were spoken, followed by questioning 
from the leaders as to the tribute money, the resurrec- 
tion, and the last solemn warnings as to the doom of 
Jerusalem. The closing hours of the day were spent 



on the Mount of Olives, during which the parable of 
the virgins and the talents, and prophecies of the fate 
of Jerusalem and the day of judgment, were spoken 
privately to his disciples. 

Wednesday , April 5th, was spent in retirement at 
Bethany. 

Thursday, April 6th, at evening, our Lord entered 
Jerusalem for the last time, for the Passover feast. 
Following this, at night, in order, were the institution 
of the Lord's supper, his closing discourses with his 
disciples, the agony of Gethsemane, the midnight 
arrest, the Jewish trial, by Annas, Caiaphas and the 
Sanhedrin. 

Friday, April 7th, was the day of death. Early in 
the morning occurred in order the final judgment of 
the Sanhedrin, the trial by Pilate, then by Herod, a 
second time by Pilate, concluding with the sentence 
of death, the scourging and the march to the cross. 
The crucifixion began at about 9 a. m. and the death 
of Christ took place at about 3 p.m. Before sunset 
he was taken from the cross and given burial. He 
thus lay in the tomb the closing hours of Friday, all 
of Saturday and the first part of Sunday, making, 
according to the Jewish reckoning, the three days in 
the tomb. 

Saturday, April 8th, our Lord lay in the tomb. 

Sunday, April 9th, early in the morning occurred 
the resurrection. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

THE LAST WE,EK 

April 2nd to 9TH, A. D. 30. 



2nd 


SUNDAY 


Triumphal Entry 


3rd 


MONDAY 


Cleansing Temple 


4th 


TUESDAY 


Parables and Prophecies 


5th 


WEDNESDAY 


Retirement 


6th 


THURSDAY 


Last Supper 


7th 
8th 


FRIDAY 


Crucifixion 


SATURDAY 


In the Tomb 


9th 


SUNDAY 


Resurrection 



Second Drill— The Last Day. 

Beginning (according to our reckoning of the day), 
Thursday night, 6 o'clock, closing Friday night, 
6 o'clock, the chief events are: 

Thursday night, 6 to 9 o'clock, the Last Passover 
and the Lord's Supper. 

Q to 12 o'clock, midnight, the scenes in Gethsemane. 

Midnight to 3 a. m., the arrest and appearance 
before Annas and perhaps Caiaphas. 

3 a. m. to 6 a. m., the trial by Caiaphas and the 
Sanhedrin. 

Friday, daylight, 6 a. m. to 9 a. m., the Roman 
trial, first by Pilate, then by Herod, again by Pilate, 
followed by scourging. 

Q a. m. to 3 p. m., the sufferings of the cross, with 
darkness from noon to 3 p. m. 

From j p. m. to 6 p. m., the descent from the cross 
and burial. 

The hours above are conjectures only. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

THE, LAST DAY 
Friday, April 7TH, A. D. 30 




6 PJK.to6A.AL 

42 




DEATH 



6 AdLto6PJfrL 



Third Drill—The Seven Words. 



The "seven words from the cross," as the dying 
utterances of our Lord, are peculiarly dear to the 
Christian heart. They were as follows: 

1st Word — Immediately after being nailed to the 
cross, his prayer for his murderers: "Father, forgive 
them" etc. Then followed the casting of lots, the 
mockings of the crowd, the revilings of the thieves, and 
the friendly presence of certain women, as noted by John. 

2d Word — near to noon — to the penitent thief: 
"To-day shalt thou be ivith me in Paradise." 

3d Word — about noon — to his mother: "Woman, 
behold thy son," etc. 

After this, there was silence and darkness until near 
his death. 

4th Word— near to 3 p. m.: "My God, My God, 
why hast thou forsaken me?" 
$th Word — To his executioners: "I thirst." 
6th Word— "It is finished." 

yth Word — "Father, into thy hands I commend my 
spirit." 

43 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

"THE SEVEN WORDS" 

ON THE CROSS, 9 A. M. TO 3 P. M. 







THE CROSS 



DEATH 



Fourth Drill— The Forty Days. 



There were eleven recorded appearances of our Lord 
in the forty days between His Resurrection and 
Ascension, as follows: 

Sunday, April 9th — Resurrection Day — were jive, 
viz: To Mary Magdalene, to other women, to Peter, 
early in the morning, near to the tomb. 

To the two disciples, passing from Jerusalem to 
Emmaus. 

At night, in Jerusalem, to the ten, Thomas being 
absent. 

Sunday, April 16th, Jesus again appeared at night 
to the eleven in Jerusalem (Thomas being present) . 

Later on, He appeared, in succession to seven dis- 
ciples on the sea-shore of Galilee, to eleven on a 
mountain of Galilee, to "five hundred brethern at 
once" somewhere in Galilee, and to James alone, 
probably also in Galilee. 

The eleventh and last appearance was near to 
Bethany, at the scene of the Ascension, to the eleven 
apostles. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



THE FORTY DAYS 

From April 9TH to May i8th, A. D. 30. 



Sun. 9th 

Resurrection Day 


>> Mary Magdalene 

Other Women 
g Peter 
q> Two Disciples 
CO Ten Apostles 


JERUSALEM 


Sun. 16th 


■a 

d Eleven Apostles 
B 
CO 


JERUSALEM 


Later 


XI Seven Fishing 
£ 11 on Mountain 
g 500 Brethren 

^ James (?) 


GALILEE 


Ascension 

May 18 


■a 

d The Eleven 
O 

CO 


BETHANY 




45 



THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST 



There are five great characteristics of our Lord's 
miracles, which do not all unite in the miracles of the 
Old Testament, nor in any pretense of ancient or 
modern miracles outside the Bible. 

The first characteristic is their 'variety. They were 
wrought upon all possible subjects, and include the 
entire range of nature and of bodily, mental and 
spiritual ailment. 

The second is their publicity. They were as far 
removed from modern Romanist or spiritualistic 
" manifestations M as daylight from darkness. Thou- 
sands of witnesses again and again saw them wrought 
under the open sky and in the bright sunlight. 

The third characteristic is their credibility. They 
were believed in, even unto death, by the disciples; 
they were never questioned or suspected by the multi- 
tudes; there were thousands who in their own bodies 
were evidences of healing wrought. Strongest of all, 
the most bitter enemies of Christ were compelled to 
admit that his miracles were real miracles, though 
they ascribed the power that wrought them to evil 
spirits. 

The fourth characteristic is their benevolence. With- 
out excepting even the apparent exceptions, the 
withered fig tree and the Gadarene swine, our Lord's 
miracles were all wrought with the intent of purest 
benevolence. This is not so of all of the Old Testa- 
ment miracles. Our Lord "went about doing good." 

The fifth is their purpose They all had a spiritual 
meaning, and were part of the great redemptive plan. 
They were wrought either to beget or to confirm faith 
in Himself as the Divine Messiah. "If I do not the 
works of my Father, believe me not; but if I do, 
though ye believe not me, believe the works, that ye 
may know and believe that the Father is in me." 
— John 10: 37, 38. 

First Drill— The Record of Miracles. 

The four gospels record 3$ miracles of our Lord: 
Matthew and Luke give the largest number; Mark the 

46 



most graphic description; John the smallest number, 
limited mainly to miracles not already noted, and to 
such as specially illustrate the divinity of Christ. 

Of the 35 miracles on record, the account is given 
as follows: 

By Matthew, 20 miracles. 
By Mark, 18 miracles. 
By Luke, 20 miracles. 
By John, 8 miracles. 

Seventeen of the 35 miracles are narrated by one 
writer only. 

Two of the Gospels give jointly an account of six 
miracles. (See numbers 3, 10, 12, 21, 23, 33, in 
"Summary"). 

Three of the Gospels give jointly an account of 
eleven miracles. (See numbers 4, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 15, 
16, 20, 25, 32, in "Summary"). 

Four Gospels give account jointly of one miracle 
only— the "feeding of the five thousand." 

Of the seventeen miracles narrated by one writer 
only: 

Matthew gives exclusive account of three. (See 
in Summary Nos. 17, 18, 26). 

Mark gives exclusive account of two miracles. 
(See in Summary Nos. 22 and 24) . 

Luke gives exclusive account of six miracles. (See 
in Summary Nos. 5, 11, 27, 30, 31, 34). 

John gives exclusive account of six miracles. (See 
in Summary Nos. 1, 2, 8, 28, 29, 35). 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



THE RECORD 


35 MIRACLES. 


Recorded by 


Recorded where 


Matthew .... 20 


In 1 Gospel ... 17 


Mark 18 


In 2 Gospels . . 6 


Luke 20 


In 3 Gospels . . 11 


John 8 


In 4 Gospels . . 1 



Second Drill—Time of Miracles. 



The thirty-five recorded miracles of our Lord were 
distributed among the four years of his public ministry, 
as follows: 

A. D. 27 — the year of Obscurity — two miracles, 
both at Can a. 

A. D. 28 — the year of Popularity — sixteen miracles, 
all except two wrought in Galilee. This year was 
the great beginning of miracles and parables. 

A. D. 29 — the year of Opposition— ttn miracles, 
distributed among the four Jewish provinces. 

A. D. 30 — the year of Death — seven miracles, con- 
fined to Perea and Judea, except the second (i Draught 
of Fishes.' ' 

More than half of the thirty-five miracles were in 
and around the two great Jewish cities, Capernaum 
and Jerusalem. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



THE TIME. 






27- 2 






4 


A.D. 


28-16 
29-IO 
30- 7 


Miracles 


Years 



Third Drill— Place of Miracles. 

Each of the four Jewish provinces became in turn 
the scene of our Lord's miracles. As most of his 
ministry was spent in Galilee, so many of his miracles 
were there wrought. The fierce opposition in Judea, 
and the unfriendly attitude of Samaritans, limited 
the number wrought in those provinces. Following 
the judgment of the safest Biblical criticism, we give 
the following: 

In Galilee, twenty-one of the thirty-five miracles 
were wrought. 

In Samaria , one miracle. 

In Judea, six miracles. 

In Perea, (meaning the entire country east or 
1 'beyond* } the Jordan,) seven miracles. 

48 



blackboard outline. 



4 


THE 

Galilee -21 
Judea - 6 
Samaria - 1 
Perea - 7 


PLACE, 

Provinces 



Fourth Drill— The Kinds of Miracles. 

Four kinds or types of miracles are included in the 
thirty-five miracles of our Lord, as follows: 

1. Miracles wrought upon nature , such as turning 
water into wine, walking on the sea, etc. Of these 
there were nine. 

2. Miracles wrought upon disease, including res- 
toration of sense, as "the leper," the "man born 
blind," etc., etc. Of these there were eighteen. 

3. Miracles wrought upon evil spirits, as the 
"man with unclean spirit," etc. Of these there were 
jive. 

4. Miracles wrought upon death, as the "raising 
of Lazarus," etc. Of these were three. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



THE KINDS 



Nature 
Disease 
Spirits 
Death 



Kinds 



Special Drill— Below are given an outline map and 
a summary of the thirty-five miracles. The numbers 
of the map correspond with those of the summary. 
The numbers at top of map are the miracles of A. D. 
27. Those at the left, in order from top to bottom, 
are of the year A. D. 28, and so on. Study map and 
summary together, putting them on blackboard or 



paper before class or school, and it will be surprising 
how soon and well even small scholars will be able to 
give time, place, order and text of the Lord's miracles. 



Map of Miracles 
compare with summary following 



3 


(1) 


A.D.27 (2) 










19 


4 
5 






20 


6 




\ / ' 


[ \ / S\~ 


21 


7 






! — t^-4 — V /y V 




8 








22 


9 




lf^"\^^ 




23 


10 




\ ffl 


mL |\ \ // 


*> 






\M/^ 


dJa\\%J/ 


b 


& 




Ju?y 


/ \ \ \ vy 


r\> 


<5 






\ \ \ Na ^ 


v£> 


c* 






/ \ \ V 




"s: 














/ \ \ K 




// 






f /\/ \/\\ 




12 




\~~.Q 


^yC\ /\\ 


24 


a 






JMf >\ / \ 


25 


14 


XT/ / / 


/vOO 




2b 


15 


V // 


// )00 




21 


/6 


/A. / / 






28 


17 










18 




^J 






29 30 31 32 


Afl 30 


33 34 35 





Summary of Miraclis. 

In connection with map above, indicates order, time % 
place, text. 



6 


MIRACLES 


PLACE 


TEXT 




A. D. 27 






I 


Water into wine 


Cana 


John 2 


2 


Nobleman's son 


Cana 


John 4 




A. D. 28 






3 


Unclean spirit 


Capernaum 


Luke 4 


4 


Peter's mother-in-law 


Capernaum 


Luke 4 


5 


Draught of fishes 


Capernaum 


Luke $ 


6 


The leper 


Galilee 


Luke 5 


7 


Man with palsy 


Capernaum 


Luke J 


8 


Impotent man 


Jerusalem 


John 5 


9 


Withered hand 


Galilee 


Luke 6 


IO 


Centurion's servant 


Capernaum 


Luke 7 


ii 


Widow's son 


Nain 


Luke 7 


12 


Demoniac, blind, dumb 


Galilee 


Matthew 12 


13 


Tempest stilled 


Sea of Galilee 


Luke 8 


14 


Gadarene demoniacs 


Gadara 


Luke 8 


1$ 


Issue of blood 


Capernaum 


Luke 8 


16 


Jairus' daughter 


Capernaum 


Luke 8 


17 


Two blind men 


Capernaum 


Matthew 9 


18 


Dumb demoniac 


Capernaum 


Matthew 9 




A. D. 29 






19 


Five thousand fed 


Perea 


Luke 9 


20 


Walking on sea 


Sea of Galilee 


Matthew 14 


21 


Syrophenician 


Near Tyre 


Matthew 15 


22 


Deaf and dumb man 


Decapolis 


Mark 7 


13 


Four thousand fed 


Decapolis 


Matthew 15 


24 


Blind man 


Bethsaida Julias 


Mark 8 


15 


Lunatic child 


Caesarea Philippi 


Matthew 17 


26 


Tribute money 


Capernaum 


Matthew 17 


27 


Ten lepers 


Samaria 


Luke 17 


28 


Man born blind 


Jerusalem 


John 9 




A. D. 30 






19 


Lazarus 


Bethany 


John n 


30 


Infirm woman 


Perea 


Luke 13 


31 


Man with dropsy 


Perea 


Luke 14 


32 


Bartimeus 


Jericho 


Matthew 20 


33 


Fig tree 


Bethany 


Matthew 21 


34 


Malchus 


Jerusalem 


Luke 22 


3$ 


Draught of fishes 


Sea of Galilee 


John 21 



51 



PARABLES AND DISCOURSES 



i. The record. The Gospels record 31 complete 
parables of our Lord, excluding from the list mere 
parabolic illustrations, such as "new wine in old 
bottles," the "fig-tree putting forth its leaves," etc. 
Of the 31 parables, Matthew records exclusively 11, 
Mark 1, Luke 14, John none, Matthew and Luke 
jointly record 2, (see Nos. 4 and 17 in "Summary"); 
Matthew, Mark and Luke jointly record 2 (see Nos. 1, 
3 and 27 in "Summary"). 

2. The place. Of the 31 parables, 10 were spoken 
in Galilee ', 13 in Perea, and 8 in Judea. Concerning 
some of the parables, both as to time and place, the 
leading harmonists differ widely. The great majority 
of the parables, however, may be definitely assigned 
as to order, time and place. 

3. The time. Our Lord's parable teaching did not 
begin until the summer of the second year of His 
ministry, A. D. 28. Eight of the parables (as in our 
Summary) are assigned to this year. By some at least 
10 are given for the same year. For the third year, 
A. D. 29, 13 parables are assigned, and 10 for the 
closing year, A. D. 30. The parables most in 
question as to the time as well as place are those 
numbered in our Summary from Nos. 12 to 24 inclusive. 

4. The purpose. Our Lord's parables have "a 
three-fold purpose: to reveal, to conceal, and to per- 
petuate the truth." First they reveal the truth by the 
striking power of anology and illustration. Second, 
they conceal the truth (a purpose our Lord expressly 
declares) from all who were hostile Or indifferent to 
the truth. To such the parables were mere riddles or 
stories. Third, they perpetuate the truth by giving 
the truth a body, a concrete expression and form that 
fixes it in the memory and heart. 

5. The Grouping. The 31 parables occur in three 
great groups, following the three great crises in our 
Lord's ministry. Each group is clearly marked by its 
own peculiar method and purpose. The first group 
of 8 parables, of A. D. 27, may be called the "educa- 
tional" group, or "parables of the kingdom." They 
exhibit, in a close series of analogies, the develop- 

52 



ment and growth of the kingdom. The second group 
consists of 16 parables, (Nos. 9 to 24 inclusive, in the 
Summary) and, excepting the last 3, belong to the 
third year of ministry, A. D. 29. They may properly 
be called the "evangelistic" parables, or "parables of 
grace." They are based upon the life of man, and 
not upon the processes of nature as with the first group, 
and they exhibit the merciful laivs and conditions of 
the kingdom, in contrast with the severe "traditions" 
of Judaism. The third group includes the last seven 
parables (see Nos. 25 to 31 inclusive, in Summary) , 
and belong to the closing year of our Lord's ministry, 
A. D. 30. They exhibit the final awards of the king- 
dom to the good and the bad, and may be called the 
u judicial" group or "parables of Judgment." 

In addition to the 31 parables, twelve of the most 
notable of our Lord's formal discourses are included 
in the drills, under such titles as are familiar, or as 
express the central thought of the discourse. Of the 12 
discourses noted, John and Matthew record nearly all, 
and they are divided as to place nearly equally between 
Galilee and Judea. In our Summary the discourses 
are given without numbers in italics, to distinguish 
them from the parables. 



First Drill—The First Year, A. D. 27. 

No parables were spoken during this year. For the 
first 16 months or more of our Lord's ministry, He 
taught by simple and direct discourse the truths of His 
kingdom. It was not until after the first crisis in His 
ministry, when He came sharply into collision with 
the Jewish leaders upon questions of tradition and law, 
and thereby aroused their hatred and opposition, that 
teaching by parables commenced. The hostile attitude 
of the leaders compelled a change of method in teach- 
ing. The truth must be taught, and the kingdom 
proclaimed, but in such a way that those unfriendly or 
indifferent to the truth ' ' hearing might not understand , ' ' 
while to those who believed in Him the new method 
might be even more helpful and attractive than the old. 

Ttvo discourses are noted during the year, one to 
Nicodemus, in Jerusalem, at the April passover, upon 
the "New Birth;" the other in the autumn, at Sychar 
to the Samaritan woman, upon the "Water of Life." 
The first discourse defines the nature of our Lord's 
kingdom, the second its extent. 

53 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



A.D. 


FIRST YEAR 

No Parables 

Discourses — 

The New Birth 
Water of Life 


27 



Second Drill— The Second Year, A. D. 28. 



The eight "parables of the kingdom," together with 
five of the twelve noted discourses, are assigned to this 
year. The parables are commonly known as the 
"Lake parables'' from their having been spoken at the 
lake near Capernaum. They are the first of our 
Lord's parables and exhibit the growth, movement and 
value of the kingdom, as follows: 

The Sower— the various subjects of the kingdom. 

The Tares — opposition to the kingdom. 

The Mustard Seed — the outward growth of the 
kingdom. 

The Leaven — the inner growth in the hearts of its 
subjects. 

The Seed in the Ground — the secret vigor of the 
kingdom. 

The Hid Treasure — value of the kingdom. 

The Pearl — the cost of the kingdom. 

The Draw Net — final exclusion from the kingdom. 

The five discourses of the year are, in order, as 
follows: 

"Christ's Divinity," at Jerusalem, in April, fol- 
lowing the miracle of the "impotent man." (John 5). 

"On the Mount," near Capernaum, in the summer, 
giving the platform and principles of the kingdom. 
(Matt.5-7). 

"The Unpardonable Sin" to the Jewish leaders, in 
Galilee, after the healing of the demoniac. (Matt. 12). 

"The Second Coming " to an "innumerable multi- 



tude, M in Galilee (or Perea), a discourse of prophetic 
warnings. (Luke 12). 

"To the Twelve," in Galilee, near to the close of 
the year, prior to their sending forth. (Matt. 10). 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



A.D. 


SECOND YEAR 
Parables of Kingdom (8) 
Discourses — 

Christ's Divinity 
On the Mount 
Unpardonable Sin 
Second Coming 
To the Twelve 


28 



Third Drill— The Third Year, A. D. 29. 

The 16 "parables of grace" (except the last three, 
Nos. 22, 23 and 24, in the Summary, which belong to 
the year 30 A. D.) together with the three discourses, 
belong in order of time to this year, as follows: 

The parables are: — 

The Tvjo Debtors — gratitude to God. 

The Unmerciful Servant — ingratitude to God. 

The Good Samaritan — helpfulness to all. 

The Friend at Midnight — persistence in prayer. 

The %ich Fool — peril of worldliness. 

The Wedding Feast — watchfulness. 

The 'Barren Fig Tree — unprofitable lives. 

The Great Supper — rejection of the Gospel. 

The Lost Sheep — the compassion of Christ. 

The Lost Money — the ministry of the Spirit. 

The Prodigal Son — the love of God for sinners. 

The Unjust Steward — preparation for death. 

Dives and Lazarus — future punishment. 

The Unjust Judge — importunate prayer. 

Pharisee and Publican — true and false prayer. 

Laborers in Vineyard — free and unmerited grace. 

The three discourses of the year, in order, were: 
"The 'Bread of Life," at Capernaum, in the spring, 



55 



exhibiting the spiritual mission of the kingdom. 
(John 6.) 

"The Childlike Spirit" at Capernaum, in the 
summer, showing the self-sacrificing spirit of the 
kingdom. (Matthew 18.) 

"The Good Shepherd," at Jerusalem, near the close 
of the year, showing Christ's love and care for His 
disciples. (John 10.) 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



A.D. 


THIRD YEAR 

Parables o! Grace (16) 

Discourses — 

Bread o! Life 
Childlike Spirit 
Good Shepherd 


29 



Fourth Drill — The Last Year, A. D. 30. 

Ten parables, including the seven "parables of 
judgment/ ' together with two discourses, belong to 
this year. The first three parables of the ten have 
already been grouped with the preceding year. The 
seven "parables of judgment' ' are as follows: 

The Pounds — the reward of diligence. 

The Two Sons — sincere and insincere profession. 

The Wicked Husbandmen — doom of persistent 
impenitence. 

Marriage of King's Son — doom of the self-righteous. 

The Ten Virgins — danger of nominal religion. 

The Talents — neglected opportunities. 

The Sheep and the Goats — eternal life and death. 

The two discourses of the year, in order, are: 

"The Judgment ," on the Mount of Olives, Tuesday 
of "Passion week," predicting the doom of the Jewish 
nation and the coming of the Judgment. (Matt. 24-25 . ) 

"Christ's Farewell " in Jerusalem the night before 
His death, showing His love for His Church and pro- 
vision for its future. (John 14-16.) 

56 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



A.D. 


LAST YEAR 

Parables of Judgment (7) 

Discourses — 

The Judgment 
Christ's Farewell 


30 



Map of Parables 
compare with summary following 





A.D 27 


9 










10 
II 


' / S^f // 


/ 


^ Jo i ( // / / 

^\^ £S- y A // / // 


12 
13 
14 


3 

4 




15 

1> 


/ \ ^0*%f jL-JJ-/r^ 






£> 




Aa// A //// \ 






16 


5 


1 > v 1 •> ^ — ^^ 


n 




6 


/ F *~"~/ / ^^^ — 


18 


7 

e 




/9 

20 
21 




ea 2121ZS 26 AD. 30 27ZQ29 30 31 



Summary of Parables and Discourses. 
Indicates order, time, place, text. Discourses in italics. 



6 
z 


PARABLES AND 
DISCOURSES 


PLACE 


TEXT 




A. D. 27 








The New 'Birth 


Jerusalem 


John 3 




The Water of Life 


Sychar 


John 4. 




A. D. 28 








Christ's Divinity 


Jerusalem 


John 5 




On the Mount 


Near Capernaum 


Matt. 5-7 




The Unpardonable Sin 


Galilee 


Matt. 12 




The Second Coming 


Galilee 


Luke 12 


I 


The Sower 


Near Capernaum 


Matt. 1} 


2 


The Tares 




■ 


Matt. 13 


3 


The Mustard Seed 




* 


Matt. 13 


4 


The Leaven 






Matt. 13 


5 


The Seed in the Ground 






Mark 4 


6 


The Hid Treasure 




• 


Matt. 13 


7 


The Pearl 




1 


Matt. 13 


8 


The Draw Net 




" 


Matt. 13 




To the Twelve 




Matt. 10 




A. D. 29 








'Bread of Life 


Capernaum 


John 6 




Childlike Spirit 


Capernaum 


Matt. 18 


9 


Two Debtors 


Galilee 


Luke 7 


10 


Unmerciful Servant 


Galilee 


Matt. 18 


II 


Good Samaritan 


Jerusalem 


Luke 10 




Good Shepherd 


Jerusalem 


John 10 


12 


Friend at Midnight 


Perea 


Luke 11 


13 


Rich Fool 


" 


Luke 12 


14 


Wedding Feast 




Luke 12 


15 


Barren Fig Tree 


" 


Luke 13 


16 


Great Supper 




Luke 14 


17 


Lost Sheep 




Luke 15 


18 


Lost Money 




Luke 15 


19 


Prodigal Son 


1 


Luke 15 


20 


Unjust Steward 




Luke 16 


21 


Dives and Lazarus 




Luke 16 




A. D. 30 






22 


Unjust Judge 


Perea 


Luke 18 


23 


Pharisee and Publican 




Luke 18 


24 


Laborers in Vineyard 




Matt. 20 


25 


The Pounds 


Jericho 


Luke 19 


26 


The Two Sons 


Jerusalem 


Matt. 21 


27 


Wicked Husbandmen 






Matt. 21 


28 


Marriage of King's Son 
The Judgment 


« 




Matt. 22 
Matt. 24-25 


29 


The Ten Virgins 






Matt. 25 


30 


The Talents 






Matt. 25 


31 


The Sheep and Goats 






Matt. 25 




Farewell Discourse 




John 14-16 



58 



THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 



The Book. 



First Drill. — Authorship. 

Luke is the universally conceded author of the third 
Gospel and book of Acts, the former being the most 
complete life of Christ, the latter the only inspired 
history of the Christian Church. 2. Luke was a 
Gentile convert, the only Gentile writer of the Bible, 
born at Antioch in Syria, 300 miles northeast of Jerusa- 
lem, and probably converted under Paul's preaching. 

3. He was fellow traveller through Asia and 
Europe with Paul for more than 12 years, joining him 
on his second missionary tour A. D. 51, and containing, 
with one or more intermissions, until Paul's death. 

4. Luke's classic Greek and pure literary style rank 
him next to Paul as the scholar of New Testament 
writers. Paul calls him "the beloved physician,'* 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 
[Draw out by questions the facts centering about the catch-words.] 
A — uthor. 
IHTtfkO C-onvert. 
f?ni/f T— raveller. 
S — cholar. 

Second Drill.— Chronology. 

Luke's two books include the first 60 years of the first 
Christian century, his "Gospel" covering the first 30 
years, his "Acts" the second 30 years. The "Acts" 
range from the Descent of the Spirit at Pentecost in 
Jerusalem A. D. 30 to the imprisonment of Paul in 
Rome about A. D. 60. The chronology of five 
greater events is given as guide to a study or the 
others. 

1. A. D. 30, the events of Pentecost, the formal 
organization of the Jewish-Christian Church at Jeru- 
salem. 

59 



2. A. D. 37, the first great persecution of the 
Jewish-Christian Church, resulting in the death of 
Stephen, and dispersion of disciples. 

3. A. D. 48, the first great missionary tour of 
Paul through Asia Minor. 

4. A. D. 50, the formal proclamation by the 
Apostolic Council of freedom from Jewish rites to all 
converts. 

5. A. D. 60, Paul's sojourn in prison at Rome, 
under Nero. 

Luke closes the book abruptly here, from which it 
is safe to conclude that its publication took place 
shortly after, probably about A. D. 62-4. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



PI 
i 



entecost. 
persecution. 

iftf rfl^W r Egg reclamation, 
rison. 
ublication 

[Or this] 

A. D. 

30 37 48 50 60 

Gospel I ! Acts I 



P P P P P 



Third Drill.— Geography. 

During the events of the book of Acts, the Roman 
Empire ruled everywhere. Nations existed in name 
only; the great cities were the centers of power. 
Seven of these are prominent in the book. 

1. Jerusalem, the Jewish capital, and site of the 
"mother Church." 

2. Samaria, 36 miles northwest of Jerusalem, the 
center of Philip's evangelistic work. 

3. Antioch, the Syrian capital, 300 miles north 
of Jerusalem, the site of the first Gentile Christian 
Church, and headquarters of Paul's missionary work. 

4. Casarea, 54 miles northwest, the home of the 
first Gentile converts to Christianity, and place of 
Paul's first imprisonment. 

60 



5- Ephesus, the great metropolis of Asia Minor, 
700 miles northwest, the center of heathen worship, 
where Paul preached three years. 

6. Alexandria in Africa, 300 miles southwest, the 
center of African Christianity and the home of 
Apollos. 

7. Rome in Europe, 1450 miles northwest, the 
great capital of the Roman Empire and center of 
European Christianity, where Paul wrote most of his 
epistles and suffered imprisonment and death. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

[Drillthoroughly with map upon location, distance and description.] 

Jerusalem. 
Samaria. 

WHERE? |=; 

Alexandria. 
Rome. 

Fourth Drill. — Contents. 

The book of Acts is in three great divisions, or 
periods, each having a typical leader and center of 
operations: 

1. The first period, 7 years in length, is that of 
organization, under leadership of Peter at Jerusalem, 
beginning with Pentecost and closing with the martyr- 
dom of Stephen. During this period Christianity is 
confined to Jews only. [Chapters 1-7]. 

2. The second period of n years is that of tran- 
sition, under Philip the evangelist, with headquarters 
at Samaria, beginning with the dispersion of the Jew- 
ish Christian Church, and closing with Peter's third 
imprisonment by Herod. During this period Chris - 
tianity casts off its Jewish rites and opens its doors to 
all people. [Chapters 8-12] . 

3. The third period of 12 years is that of extension, 
under leadership of Paul, with Antioch as the center, 
beginning with his first missionary tour and closing 
with his imprisonment at Rome. During this period 
Christianity is preached in the great cities of Asia, 
Europe and Africa. [Chapters 13-28]. 

61 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 
[Question on the facts stated as to each period.] 

WHAT? PS* Period 



Fifth Drill. — Purpose. 

The book of acts was written for a threefold purpose. 

i. As a sequel to the Gospel Luke had already 
written. The Gospel exhibits the founder of the 
Christian Church; the Acts the Church itself. 

2. To narrate the supernatural spread of Chris- 
tianity throughout the world in 30 short years under 
12 men, that men might know it to be divine. 

3. To present the administration of the promised 
Spirit, then and now the guide and teacher of the 
Church. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

equel. 



WHY? Sjtf- 




62 



THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 



Period of Organization 



First Drill. — Characteristics. 

i. The period of organization includes the Jewish- 
Christian Church under Peter, from its formation at 
Pentecost to its dispersion upon the death of Stephen. 

2. Its history is contained in the first eight chapters 
of the Book of Acts. 

3. Thousands of converts — beginning with three 
thousand at Pentecost — were added to its membership 
during this period. 

4. The membership was composed exclusively of 
Jews and Jewish proselytes. 

5. During the entire period of several years the 
movements of the Church were restricted to Jerusalem. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

P — entecost to Stephen. 

E — ight Chapters. 

T — housands Converted. 

E — xclusively Jews. 

R — estricted to Jerusalem. 



Second Drill.— Chief Persons. 
Six persons are prominent during the period: 

1. Peter acted as first of the apostles in the leader- 
ship of the Church. 

2. Matthias was the first formal appointee of the 
Church, being chosen to the place of Judas. 

3. Caiaphas, the acting high priest, was the first 
persecutor of the Church. 

4. Ananias, with his wife, was the first false 
disciple. 

5. Gamaliel, the chief of the Pharisees, was the 
first defender of the Church in the ranks of its 
opposers. 

6. Stephen was the first martyr of the newly organ- 
ized Church. 

63 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

Apostle. 
m««^ *» *m Appointee. 
Ir 1 O CjHP Persecutor. 
lIHdl traitor. 

Defender. 

Martyr. 

Third Drill.— Chronology. 

The first seven chapters of the Book of Acts include 
the first seven years of the Christian Church. Three 
dates only are prominent, two of which are in doubt. 

i. The organization of the Church at Pentecost 
was in May, A. D. 30, the events of the first four 
chapters of Acts being confined to this year. 

2. The persecution and imprisonment of the Apos- 
tles occurred probably three years later, in A. D. 33. 

3. The death of Stephen was probably in May, 
A. D. 37, making the period of the Jewish Christian 
Church at Jerusalem seven years in duration. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

A. D. 
30 33 37 



Chap. 1 to 4 



Chap. 5 to 7 



Fourth Drill. — Analysis of Chapters. 
[Let the reviewer teach this thoroughly , until the 
School can name familiarly the chief event of each 
chapter.] 

The Jewish Christian Church 



Leader — Peter. Center — Jerusalem. 
Time — Seven Years. 

Chapter 1 — The Ascension. 
Chapter 2 — Organization at Pentecost. 
Chapter 3 — First Apostolic Miracle. 
Chapter 4 — Peter and the Sanhedrin. 
Chapter 5 — The Apostles Persecuted. 
Chapter. 6 — Church Deacons Chosen. 
Chapter 7 — Stephen's Defense and Death. 

64 



THE BOOK OF ACTS 



Period of Transition 



First Drill. — The Four Steps. 

This period includes the great change from Jewish 
to Gentile Christianity. It begins with a Jewish 
Church at Jerusalem, and closes with a Gentile Church 
at Antioch. The period is given in chapters 8, 9, 10, 
11 and 12. There are four distinct steps forward: 

1. After the death of Stephen and first dispersion 
of the Jerusalem church, Philip began preaching the 
gospel to the Samaritans. 

2. The next year Paul, the future great apostle to 
the Gentiles, was converted and began his ministry. 

3. Two years later, the Roman pagan Cornelius 
and his household were received directly into the 
Christian Church. 

4. Between 43 and 48 A. D., while the mother 
Church at Jerusalem was being persecuted by Herod, 
a Gentile Church was formed at Antioch, and the 
Gospel for the first time preached to heathens. 



p 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

hilip's Preaching. 
auPs Conversion, 
agans Admitted, 
reaching to Heathens. 



Second Drill. — Chief Persons. 

Eight persons are prominent in the period: 
Philip, the first preacher to those not Jews. 
Simon Magus, the pretender of Samaria. 
The Eunuch, the African proselyte. 
Paul, the young Pharisee and convert. 
Cornelius, the pagan. 

Herod (Agrippa I), the second great persecutor. 
Peter and James, the victims of Herod, the first a 
prisoner y the second a martyr. 

65 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



P 



reacher. 

retender. 

roselyte. 

harisee. 

agan. 

ersecutor. 

risoner and martyr. 



WHO? 



Third Drill. — Chief Places. 

Five cities are prominent; 

i. Samaria, 36 miles north of Jerusalem, 
Philip's headquarters. 

2. Damascus, 140 miles northeast, where Paul 
began his ministry. 

3. Joppa, 36 miles northwest, the scene of Peter's 
vision and greatest miracle. 

4. Casarea, 54 miles northwest, the military home 
of Cornelius. 

5. Antioch, 300 miles north, capital of Syria, one 
of the three great cities of the world, the center of 
Gentile Christianity during Paul's life. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 





C 2 * 



Fourth Drill. — Chronology. 

This period includes about eleven years, from the 
death of Stephen, A. D. 37, to Paul's first missionary 
tour, A. D. 48. 

66 



Five dates are prominent, some of which are in 
doubt. 

i. Stephen's death, A. D. 37. 

2. Paul's conversion, A. D. 38. 

3. Cornelius' conversion, A. D. 40. 

4. Antioch Church organized and Herod's per- 
secution of the Jerusalem Church — about 44 or 45 
A. D. 

5. Paul's first missionary tour, A. D. 48. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

A. D. 

Organization Transition 

30 37 38 40 44 48 



r 



P S P C A 

Drill — Analysis of Chapters. 

Whatever else in these drills is taught or omitted, 
see that the scholars learn thoroughly a topical analysis 
of the chapters of the Book of Acts. Place beforehand 
on board or paper the central topic of each chapter in 
order, and drill upon it; then use initial letters only 
(as below) and complete the drill, until the scholars 
can respond familiarly from memory to any chapter 
called for. 

Second Period. 



The Jewish Gentile Church. 

Leader, Philip. Center, Antioch. 
Time, 11 years. 

Chapter 8. — Philip's ministry. 
Chapter 9. — Paul's conversion. 
Chapter 10. — Cornelius' conversion. 
Chapter n. — The Antioch Church. 
Chapter 12. — Herod's persecution. 

(By initials only). 
Chapter 8.— P— M— 
Chapter 9.— P— C— 
Chapter 10.— C — C — 
Chapter 11.— A — C — 
Chapter 12.— H— P— 



THE BOOK OF ACTS 
Period of Extension 



First Drill. — Outline of Period. 

This period includes the three great missionary 
tours of Paul among the Gentiles, as narrated in the 
last sixteen chapters of Acts (chapters 13-28 inclusive) . 

1. The period covers 12 years, from Paul's first 
missionary tour A. D. 48 to his imprisonment at Rome 
A. D. 60. 

2. The places prominent are Antioch, Jerusalem 
and Ephesus in Asia; Corinth and Rome in Europe; 
and Alexandria in Africa. 

3. The persons prominent as leaders are Paul, 
Silas, Mark, Luke and Timothy. 

4. The principal events of the period were the 
planting of churches in many of the great cities of 
Asia, Europe and Africa. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



Period. A 

laces. M 
ersons. 

rincioal. • 



rincipal. 

[Question the school upon each of the four points 
above and indicate answers on board by initial letters.] 

Second Drill. — Paul's First Missionary Tour. 

Date. — Commencing A. D. 48. 

Duration. — Two years. 

Direction. — Antioch (Syrian), Antioch (Pisidian), 
Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and return. 

Distances. — Aggregating about 1,500 miles. 

Doings. — The founding of four churches in Asia 
Minor , as indicated by above named places. 

68 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

uration. V B 

irection. ^^^ 

istance. ^T 

oings. 9 



BLACKBOARD ROUTE. 



(»)A 

(3)1 

(4)L(S)D 

(i)A 

1500 Miles ■'■^■■■"■'i'""" 



Third Drill. — Paul's Second Missionary Tour. 

Date. — Commencing A. D. 51. 

Duration. — Three years. 

Direction. — Antioch, Asia Minor, Philippi, Thessa- 
lonica, Berea, Corinth and return. 

Distances. — About 3,500 miles. 

Doings. — The founding of the four European 
Churches named above. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



uration. ^T^W 
irection. ^^ 
istance. w 
oings. ^ 



69 



BLACKBOARD ROUTE. 



00 P 

(3)T 

(4)B 
(5)C 



1500 Miles 



d)A 



Fourth Drill.— Paul's Third Missionary Tour. 

Date — Commencing A. D. 54. 

Duration. — Four years. 

Direction. — Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, Philippi, 
and return via Jerusalem. 

Distances. — About 3,500 miles. 

Doings. — Strengthening the Asiatic and European 
churches. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



uration. ^^H 
irection. f 
istance. m 
oings. Q 



BLACKBOARD ROUTE. 





(4)P 




1 


00 E 




§ 


(3)C 






(i)A 


1 




(s)J 



Fifth Drill. — Paul's Last Years. 

Returning to Jerusalem from his third tour, Paul 
was bitterly persecuted by his Jewish countrymen. 

For two years, from 58 to 60 A. D., he wasprisoner 
under Felix at Cassarea. 

For two years more, from 60 to 62 A. D., he was 
prisoner under Casar at Rome. 

For several years following, he was probably a 
missionary to Spain and other countries. 

He was put to death by Nero at Rome about 66 A. 
D., in his 65 year. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE, 



P 



ersecuted. 
risoner. 
risoner. 

robable mission, 
ut to death. 



? 




71 



THE BOOK OF ACTS 



Analytic Review. 

First Drill — The Book of Acts. 

i. Three periods or divisions were found, viz: 
1st, the period of organization, during which the 
church was Jewish; 2d, of transition, when the 
church was changing from Judaism to Gentilism; 3d, 
of extension, when the gospel was preached to all 
Gentiles without reserve. 

2. Five places were prominent as centers viz: 
Jerusalem, center of the mother church; Samaria, of 
the Samaritan church; Antioch, of the Gentile church; 
Ephesus, of heathen idolatry; Rome, of political 
supremacy. 

3. Five persons were prominent as leaders of the 
church.: Peter the organizer; Philip the evangelist; 
Paul the missionary; Stephen and James the defenders 
and martyrs. 

4. The principal events, with their respective 
dates, were: Pentecost A. D. 30; Persecution 
(Stephen's death) A. D. 37; Paul's missions begun 
A. D. 48; Proclamation of the Gospel to Gentiles A. 
D. 50; Paul at Rome and close of this Book A. D. 
60-2. 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

|_Put on blackboard in advance and question and drill by the help 
of initial letters.] 



BOOK 

OF 



P 



eriods — o. t. e. 
laces — j. s. a. e. r. 
ersons — p. p. P. s. J. 



ACTS.* rincipal e.— the 5 ps. 

Second Drill. — Organization, or the Jewish 

Church. 

1 . The narrative is found in the first seven chap- 
ters of the book of Acts. 

2. The time is seven years, from Pentecost A. D. 
30 to Stephen's death A. D. 37. 

3. The leaders are Peter and Stephen. 

72 



4. The center of operations is Jerusalem. 

5. The principal events (taken topically from the 
seven chapters) are: 1st chapter, the ascension; 2d, 
organization of church; 3d, the first miracle; 4th, the 
first opposition; 5th, the first imprisonment; 6th, the 
first deacons; 7th, the first martyrdom. 



The 

JEWISH 

Church 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 

Narrative— S C. 
Time— S. Y. 
Leaders — P. S. 
Center— J. 



1 Ch. 1 

2 



Events \ 



—A. 
— O 
— F M. 

FO. 

FL 

F D. 

F M. 



Third Drill. — Transition, or Jewish-Gentile 
Church. 

1. The narrative is found in the five chapters, 
from the 8th to 12th inclusive. 

2. The time is eleven years, from Stephen's death 
A. D. 37 to Paul's first mission A. D. 48. 

3. The leaders are Philip, Peter and James. 

4. The centers are Samaria, Casarea, Damas- 
cus and Antioch. 

5. The principal events are: Chapter 8th, 
Philip's ministry; chap. 9th, Paul converted; chap, 
loth, Cornelius admitted; chap, nth, Antioch church 
of Gentiles formed; chap. 12th, second persecution 
(James death). 

BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



' 


Narrative — F. C. 








Time— E. Y. 




The 


Leaders— P. P. J. 
Centers— S. CD. A. 




Jewish Gentile 


> 


Ch. 8 


— PM. 






9 


— P C. 


Church 


Events 


> 10 


— CA. 






n 


—AC. 


- 




12 


— S P. 



Fourth Drill. — Extension, or the Gentile 

Church. 

i. The narrative is contained in the last sixteen 
chapters of the book of Acts, beginning with the 13th 
chapter. 

2. The time is twelve years, from Paul's first 



D. 48 to Paul's imprisonment at Rome 



mission A. 
A. D.60. 

3. The chief leaders are Paul, Silas, Mark, Tim- 
othy, Luke, 



are Antioch, Alexandria, 



4. The chief centers 
Ephesus, Corinth, %ome, 

5. The chief events are: Chapters 13-14, Paul's 
first mission; chap. 15-17, his second mission; chap. 
18-20, his third mission; chap. 21-23, Paul a prisoner 
at Jerusalem; chap. 24-26, prisoner at Caesarea; chap. 
27-28, prisoner at Rome. 



BLACKBOARD OUTLINE. 



The 

GENTILE 

Church. 



Narrative— L S C. 
Time— T Y. 
Leaders— P. S. M. T. L. 
Centers— A. A. E. C. R. 



Events 



Paul's 
Missions 

Paul a 
Prisonner 



Jr 



(13-14) 
(15-17) 
(18-20) 
(21-23) 
(24-26) 
(27-28) 




JUN 6 1904 



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